It's been two years since the Apprenticeship Levy came into effect.聽
Announced by former Chancellor George Osborne, its aim was to show the 'government's commitment to boosting productivity by investing in human capaital.'
In other words, it is a way to upskill the national workforce by funding apprenticeship training, from funds taken from big corporations.聽
This tax on employers is only applicable to businesses with an annual pay bill of more than 拢3m.
However, it seems the levy is often unspent and anything deemed superfluous goes back to HM Treasury.
That's where North West training provider Total People come in with an ingenious way of allowing funds to benefit the wider business community.
What is the campaign?
To mark the start of National Apprenticeship Week, Total People has launched the ' campaign.'
The campaign is to encourage large levy paying employers to commit to a goodwill pledge totaling a minimum of 拢1m during 100 days from February 3, 2020.
The secondary aim is to engage with the SME community who can access gifted levy funds.
Working across a number of sectors including management and leadership, automotive and health and social care, facilitators Total People will assist SMEs.
They will focus on upskilling their employees and use unspent levy gifted funds to future proof workforces and boost the sector.
Gina Steele, managing director, Total People said: "This is an amazing opportunity for large levy paying businesses to make a real difference to people鈥檚 lives helped by Total People expertise.
"Each pound of levy gifted funding not only boosts small business growth, thereby strengthening the 海角视频 economy, but also improves the life chances of the people working within that organisation.
鈥淭he theme for this year鈥檚 National Apprenticeship Week is 鈥楲ook Beyond鈥 and that is exactly what we are asking larger employers to do. By gifting unspent levy, they are looking beyond their own businesses to help smaller organisations upskill their employees.
鈥淲e are also calling on smaller businesses to to take advantage of this amazing opportunity.鈥
Sounds great, how does it work?
Levy paying employers are those with a wage bill of more than 拢3m and see 0.5% of their payroll go towards HMRC to the levy.
In April 2019, the Government made it possible for levy paying employers to 鈥榞ift鈥 up to 25% of their apprenticeship levy to other organisations to fund apprenticeships.
By gifting surplus levy, large employers can sponsor an apprenticeship in a sector or industry area that aligns to their CSR agenda while at the same time support employment and skills development in smaller businesses who benefit from fully funded apprenticeship training.
The #1M100 campaign is also urging small and medium employers to access this funding to help futureproof their workforce and strengthen their industry sectors.
Levy-paying employers can visit a and simply fill out the enquiry form to take part.聽
Smaller and medium size enterprises looking to access the funding to upskill employees can add their .
Who is on board?
The first big employer to gift their Apprenticeship Levy through Total People is Apleona.
The facilities management and workspace services firm has given 拢100,000 in unspent levy to support SME growth in health and social care.
This fantastic donation will enable 30 adult care worker apprentices or 15 children, young people and families practitioners to gain their qualifications, while simultaneously boosting the sector.
Jane Podmore, HR director for the 海角视频 and Ireland, Apleona said: 鈥淭he health and social care system is under particular pressure and we believe that by assisting in training the next generation to support in this vital area that we are doing our bit to help the wider community.
鈥淲e are pleased to be able to partner with Total People who can facilitate putting our unused levy to a great cause.鈥
Apleona's client base extends across more than 250 海角视频 and Ireland sites and where they employ in excess of 3,000 talented people.
About Total People
Total People provide apprenticeships in more than 30 different industries and connect people with employers to provide amazing apprenticeship opportunities for anyone aged 16 and over.
Graded as good by Ofsted, Total People can support employers through every step of the process.
They have a wealth of experience in providing apprenticeships across business administration, engineering, hospitality, management, construction and childcare.
For more details visit or .
